Windshield packaging system using pressure-regulated clamps

Abstract

A windshield packaging system that provides effective support for the windshield during substantial vertical drops, protects the windshield against side impacts, is simple in design, requires only modest skill to effectively assemble, protects windshields of different size with the same size carton, and minimizes inventory management problems. The windshield packaging system includes jaw components having a synergistic effect, horizontally-running flutes, and pressure-regulated clamps.

I claim:  
     
       1. A windshield packaging system for packaging a windshield in a manner that protects the windshield from being damaged during shipment and storage comprising: 
       a) a carton for housing the windshield; and  
       b) one or more clamps positioned within said housing, each of said clamps including:  
       1) a set of elongated cooperating jaws configured to frictionally engage the windshield; and  
       2) a pressure applicator configured to be controlled by operation of a tightening apparatus, said pressure applicator in communication with said jaws for causing said jaws to consistently press against the windshield with a certain amount of pressure regardless of whether the tightening apparatus continues to operate after the certain amount of pressure is reached.  
     
     
       2. The windshield packaging system of  claim 1  wherein said pressure applicator includes a threaded bolt and a nut on said threaded bolt. 
     
     
       3. The windshield packaging system of  claim 2  wherein the tightening apparatus includes a rotating socket and wherein said bolt has a free end that protrudes beyond said nut after said nut is rotated on the shaft of said bolt by the rotating socket and wherein the length of said bolt is such as to cause said free end to cause the rotating socket to separate from said nut after the certain pressure is reached. 
     
     
       4. The windshield packaging system of  claim 3  wherein the socket has a depth and wherein the length of the free end of said bolt becomes substantially equal to this depth when the certain pressure is reached. 
     
     
       5. The windshield packaging system of  claim 1  wherein each of said elongated jaws includes an elongated piece of polyethylene sandwiched between a cling foam strip and an elongated and substantially-rigid backing member. 
     
     
       6. The windshield packaging system of  claim 1  wherein the windshield has surfaces, a width greater than its height, and a perimeter edge, said packaging system is for protecting the windshield when said packaging system is placed beneath other packaging systems and oriented such that the width of the windshield is horizontal and the surfaces of the windshield are vertical, and wherein said carton has a first and a second planner surface configured and oriented to surround the surfaces of the windshield made of corrugated paper having flutes oriented to run parallel to the width of the windshield. 
     
     
       7. The windshield packaging system of  claim 6  wherein each of said elongated jaws includes an elongated piece of polyethylene sandwiched between a cling foam strip and an elongated and substantially-rigid backing member. 
     
     
       8. A windshield securing process for securing a windshield in a windshield packaging system comprising: 
       a) positioning the windshield within the jaws of one or more clamps;  
       b) tightening the jaws by operating a tightening apparatus until the jaws apply a certain amount of pressure to the windshield;  
       c) continuing to operate the tightening apparatus after the certain pressure is reached, wherein said continuing to operate does not cause an increase in the pressure.  
     
     
       9. The windshield securing process of  claim 8  wherein said tightening includes rotating a nut on the shaft of a bolt. 
     
     
       10. The windshield securing process of  claim 9  wherein said tightening includes rotating the nut until the free end of the bolt that protrudes beyond the nut reaches a certain length. 
     
     
       11. The windshield securing process of  claim 10  wherein said tightening includes rotating the nut with a socket. 
     
     
       12. The windshield securing process of  claim 11  wherein the socket is disengaged from the nut by the free end of the bolt when the certain amount of pressure is reached. 
     
     
       13. A turn-regulation process for causing a nut to travel a pre-determined distance down the shaft of a bolt comprising rotating the nut on the bolt in a tightening manner by driving it with a rotating socket until the free end of the bolt that protrudes beyond the nut increases in length into the depth of the socket until the free end of the bolt forces the socket to disengage from the nut just when the nut has traveled the pre-determine distance down the shaft of the bolt.